Halfmoon race heats up as challenger questions ethics

The final days of the Halfmoon town supervisor’s race are heating up as challenger Deanna Stephenson has called for the town’s ethics committee to examine the multiple roles of Steve Watts, a GOP committee member who is the Planning Board chairman and also the part-time building and development director. In the latter role, Watts oversees the town’s building and planning department. As a town employee Watts has said he regularly meets with developers before their projects are presented to the Planning Board, over which he presides as chairman. Stephenson said the dual-role is a conflict of interest. She also called out Watts for his decision a week ago to warn a local business owner about a campaign sign he made for Stephenson, calling it selective enforcement and noting that GOP violations have gone unchecked. Watts is not a code enforcement officer. Supervisor Melinda Wormuth defended Watts as a “dedicated employee” in a statement issued Friday and accused Stephenson of violating the town’s sign code. The delivery method of the supervisor’s message was also questioned by Stephenson, who said it’s inappropriate for Wormuth to issue a political statement through her town secretary and on town letterhead.Wormuth statementStephenson statement

Brendan J. Lyons

18 Responses

My name is Robert Potter and I am the President of MovinAds & Signs. I have been operating a Mobile Billboard Marketing and Sign shop in the Town of Halfmoon for over three years. In fact, the town recently approved our business relocating to 1712 Rt. 9 from Ushers Rd. We specialize in helping businesses maximize their marketing dollars with creative graphics and wraps on cars, trucks and trailers. We also rent utility trailers similar to u-haul trailers. However, our trailers are equipped with customized graphics which promote our customer’s business. Neither I, nor my attorney, are aware of any law stating that these utility trailers are illegal in the Town of Halfmoon.
I find it very coincidental that the town is now telling me that the utility trailer with Deanna Stephenson’s ad is illegal. Up until this point the Town has never had an issue with any of our vehicles. I personally took pictures of 5 utility trailers on route 9 within ½ mile from my trailer, with graphics promoting several area businesses. Those trailers are not only much larger they, have also been parked in the same location directly on route 9 for several months. It took the town less than 18 hours to show up at my door and tell me that the trailer I am renting to Deanna Stephenson is illegal. The Town official explained to me that whether the trailers are parked or driven, they are not legal in the Town of Halfmoon. If officials from the Town of Halfmoon have the ability to stop Deanna Stephenson’s trailer, then what is next?

Deanna Stephenson has illegal sign all over. How about the one in front of Arongen Elementary School. It is clearly in the town of Clifton Park and the sign may be on School grounds. She seems to think she can put them wherever she wants.

As an outsider from the neighboring Town I have to say this coverage is typical with the left leaning TU in the way this issue and race have been covered. Both Stephenson and Mr. Potter complain that the law is being enforced and its Mindy Wormuth’s fault or ethical lapse by Republicans. The complaints about “selective enforcement” is flat out laughable.

Here is my analogy – I admittedly like to drive fast routinely drive 80 on the Thruway. I drive a nondescript black vehicle and have a clean driving record. Routinely bright yellow and red sports cars and vehicles with NJ & Mass plates can be seen on any given day pulled over by a State Trooper. Like Mrs Stephenson the NJ driver could complain that the Trooper pulled her over because she had a bright car with NJ plates. I could be like Mr. Potter and complain if the trooper pulled me over with the defense that I have been driving 80 on the Thruway for years and now you pull me over. In either case the Trooper is right because they are enforcing the law as it exists on the books. Halfmoon appears to be doing the same thing.

Those complaining may not like the law, just as I think the speed limit is too low, but guess what – The law is the law. There is no law that is enforced 100% of the time but guess what when you get caught deal with it and comply. Complaining about it is just plain silly.

It’s clear from Mindy’s responses to all of these attacks, that she really doesn’t think what they’re doing in Halfmoon is a big deal. That’s not surprising, because this is how things have always been done in Halfmoon. It’s pay to play, nepotism, and business as usual in Halfmoon. Of course what Watts is doing is unethical; but in Halfmoon, they haven’t discovered ethics yet.

I wonder if Mindy will have the same fate as Judge Gil Abramson (also from Halfmoon) last year. Not only was Gil embarassingly defeated in a primary, but he resigned in disgrace before he could get kicked off the bench.

There is no law prohibiting the use of utility trailers in the Town of Halfmoon. For the above analogy to be accurate there would have to be a road without a speed limit yet you were the only person that was stopped because the authorities didn’t like the color of your car. If you don’t think this type of behavior happens in our towns than you are very naive.

I believe the signs are a free speech issue, local towns and cities seem to feel that they have the authority to pass local laws to keep a political opponent from expressing free speech. I am not a Democratic but I believe that Mrs. Stephenson has the right to have the sign. I think that this has more to do with not allowing the tax payers of Halfmoon with the opportunity of hearing both sides in this election. Why is Mr. Watts the one that seems to do all of Mindy Wormuth dirty work. If the town board had any back bone they would fire Mr. Watts for using his position in the town to promote one candidate of the other. I am a Conservative and this does not pass the smell test. Something is wrong in Halfmoon.

Gman, the TU blew up the Troy dems ballot fraud two years ago. Typical response from GOP is the waaaaahhhh the TU hates Republicans. You can’t swing a cat in Saratoga County without hitting a Republican so any story they do about cronyism is going to touch your beloved GOP. Your analogy is flawed. It would be more on point if the traffic stop you envision was made by the building director posing as a trooper and pulling you over with his flashing yellow code enforcement light. Since when does a town planning czar go out on a SATURDAY to bust the chops of a business owner over a sign infraction? All these candidates break the sign ordinance but only the challenger gets nailed? Kudos to Potter for standing up. If any doubts ask the planning czar to go out on a Saturday and tell Bruce Tanski it’s a federal violation when he orders his tenants to take down Dem signs, and tells his elderly tenants how to vote. Maybe Watts can pose as an FBI agent and get to the bottom of that too.

GMan must be an employee of the town of Halfmoon who’s terrified of losing his or her job if Mindy goes down in flames on Tuesday. I agree with #7, where’s the rest of the town board on this? I know Hayner and Wazilewski are running for town board this year, why are they so quiet? I know why, cause they are running unopposed and this is how things are doine in Halfmoon, business as usual. Keep quiet don’t rock the boat and you get taken care of.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Saratoga County politics, the Land of Jasper. Since the local employees owe their jobs to the party, they do the bosses bidding, even when it crosses the line to harassment. Mindy is just growing into her role. Same thing goes on at the county offices. Here in my town we have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber campaigning that they’ll vote no on a proposal before the Planning Board. Either these two clowns are unaware of the town zoning and planning laws or else it’s “Lie to get elected. The stupid voters will forget.” Unfortunately both are correct in my town.

The issue Deanna Stephenson brings up about Watts is ridiculous. Is she saying that anyone that takes part in party politics shouldn’t be allowed to serve in appointed positions. I would understand if he was the Chairman or Vice-Chair. Does anyone believe she wouldn’t try to appoint members of the Halfmoon Democratic Committee to the Planning or Zoning boards if she is elected. Give me a break.

GOP? There’s a GOP? What are you talking about? Go to Capitol blogs, the GOP is about to lose a huge race tomorrow, thanks to hacks like you and backroom deals. My boy nate was right and Collins is proof. In the grand scheme, Lebron’s race was nickles and dimes in comparison to Erie County. Saratoga’s next, trust me like you trust water is wet.

But please, prove me wrong. I’ve been posting about it for months and not one, just one of you have proven me wrong.

Clark you have it wrong once again. I do not work for any government entity – never have and never will. I earn an honest living in the private sector. As my user name indicates I am from Clifton Park.

Gopher the Hearst Corporation who owns the TU historically tilts left. Helen Thomas the anti-Semitic white house reporter is a proud ex-employee. The juicy story in Halfmoon to try to help unseat a very highly weighted Saratoga County Supervisor seat gets coverage of enforcement of signage laws. Here in Clifton Park documented press releases with official court statistics go out to the TU editors regarding facts that the Democrat judge hears 5,217 fewer cases vs the Republican Town Justice and it gets NO COVERAGE. This was only 27% of the cases in 2010 and If the GOP Judge was the one hearing only 27% of the cases I would imagine that the TU would have run numerous stories. But yet we are debating sign law enforcement because there is a huge public outcry? Absolutely not!

This is not any crying, just stating the facts. I believe that coverage of corruption in Troy is not a legitimate comparison to vindicate the TU.

Back in 1993, the TU endosed a republican (back when they used to have a party) for Albany city mayor. That was against Jennings. Today they would never dream of doing anything like that. In fact, they go out of their way to help out certain candidates. Don’t even get me started on Corey Ellis.

Then, the TU did a better job in covering all candidates. Today, not so.

You want real investigative reporting you have to go the Albany Student Press.